Blog

Source:

Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Dye, Tasman District Organised Crime Group.

Police have arrested three men in relation to the cultivation and sale of cannabis.

One local man was arrested in Picton yesterday and two other men were located and arrested in Auckland.

The man arrested in Picton was caught as he walked off the Interislander Ferry. Police located his suitcase which was full of vacuum-packed cannabis packages. A search of his Picton address located over $12,000 in cash. He also had a BB gun resembling a Glock pistol and a small amount of Class B drug MDMA. 

He appeared in the Blenheim District Court today on a charge of possession of cannabis for supply.

The two men arrested in Auckland are Vietnamese nationals believed to be part of an organised crime syndicate, one of whom was in New Zealand illegally.

The men had just delivered a suitcase full of cannabis to Wellington, when they were arrested. They appeared in the Auckland District Court today and their bail was opposed.

All three men are all aged in their 20s.

Enquiries are ongoing and Police cannot rule-out the possibility of further arrests.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dye says the arrests come as a result of an investigation that has spanned Tāmaki  Makaurau, Wellington and Tasman which targeted an opportunist profit-driven business.

We believe that these Vietnamese men are working with others cultivating and dealing cannabis in Auckland rental properties. This type of activity is linked to organised crime groups and cannabis is a large source of income for their illegal operations.

Often the properties used by these groups will appear innocent and will not attract the attention of neighbours.

“These individuals are significantly modifying rental properties to cultivate cannabis and often with risky electrical installations.”

“This type of activity is dangerous and creates a significant fire risk. Often electricity is being stolen to run these grow operations.”

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Police are reminding landlords to be vigilant when renting out their properties:

• Ensure there are regular property inspections.
• Carry out thorough vetting: get two forms of photo ID and sight the original documents.
• It’s important for the community to remain vigilant as well. If you see suspicious activity, such as large deliveries of fertilizer bags being dropped off without any corresponding gardening occurring, or signs that an electricity meter has been tampered with, please contact Police.
• Report any information you have by calling 105 or go online to make a report at www.police.govt.nz/use-105
• You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre

Source:

A bone located in the Otira area last year has been identified as belonging to a person who is believed to have gone missing in 2020.

On 18 January 2024, a member of the public contacted Police after finding a bone in the Otira area.

The bone has since been examined by a Pathologist, Anthropologist, and ESR scientists as we worked to identify the age of the bone and who it belonged to.

Following the examination by ESR Scientists the bone has now been confirmed as further remains of missing person Marni Sheppeard, who was last heard from in November 2020.

In 2021, Marni’s partial remains were located in the Rolleston River area following an extensive search involving LandSAR volunteers and Police, two CanyonSar teams, Alpine Cliff Rescue, two police dog units and a LandSAR dog team which were deployed into the area by Precision Helicopters.

Police have since spoken with Marni’s mother and informed her of the finding.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source:

Police are reviewing new information about the 26-year-old murder of David John Robinson after canvassing the small West Coast settlement of Kakapotahi.

Detective Inspector Geoff Baber says after re-interviewing individuals in mid-February, new information and lines of enquiry had come to light.

“The dedicated investigation team based in Hokitika Police Station, are following these new leads, and are interviewing new people now located across the West Coast and some other parts of the South Island.”

The initial homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998, after the body of David was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross, where it had laid for up to two weeks.

Cold cases like David’s murder are periodically reviewed with the aim of identifying opportunities to solve them and bring closure to loved ones, says Detective Inspector Baber.

“Our goal is to get justice for David, and answers for his family.”

It has been reported that a single gunshot was heard by a number of people in the Kakapotahi settlement between 14 and 18 December around 10am and 10:30am – approximately two weeks before David’s body was located about 3 kilometres away.

“There has been no explanation to date as to what that single gunshot was.

“If you know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us.”

If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source:

More than 26 years after the murder of David John Robinson, Tasman Police have reopened the investigation into his death, with enquiries under way in the small West Coast town of Kakapotahi.

A homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998, after the body of the then-25-year-old David was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross.

Detective Inspector Geoff Baber of the Tasman District Police says David was killed approximately 10 days before the discovery of his body.

The initial Police investigation located several of David’s possessions scattered across the beach, indicating he had likely been staying in the area before he died.

After extensive enquiries at the time of his death – including interviewing a number of people within the community and conducting searches of nearby beach, bush and river areas – the investigation was scaled back.

“The investigation has been periodically reviewed and police continue to make additional enquiries over the years.

“I want David’s family and the community to know we will not give up – Police are determined to find out what happened in this small rural community, shortly before Christmas over 26 years ago.”

Police have been canvasing the Kakapotahi area this week and enquiries will continue in the coming days and weeks.

“David would have been 51 now, and while his murder was nearly three decades ago his family continue to grieve.

“We know people may not have wanted to previously tell us what they saw or heard, but the passing of time may have changed things for them, and they may see things differently now with regards to David and what happened to him.

“If you do know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us – it is not too late to provide David’s family with answers.”

If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source:

olice can now release the name of the man who died following a crash in Glenross on 29 March.

He was 32-year-old Robert Douglas Ralston, from Wakari, Dunedin.

Our thoughts remain with those close to him at this difficult time.

A 31-year-old man is due to reappear in the Dunedin District Court on 6 May facing a charge of manslaughter.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source:

Police can now release the name of person who died following a crash in Owaka, Clutha on Sunday 23 March.

He was 7-year-old O’siah Prasad, of Fairfield, Dunedin.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source:

Police can confirm the body of a woman has been found in the search for a 75-year-old reported missing in the Dunedin area on Friday 18 April.

While located deceased this morning, Police is pleased to have been able to reunite the woman with her family.

Police extend our condolences to the woman’s family and friends during this difficult time and continue to provide them with support.

The death is not believed to be suspicious and will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source:

Seven youth have been arrested following a number of recent burglaries in the Gore area.

Between 5pm Monday 7 April and 8am Tuesday 8 April, Gore Police received reports of multiple reports of burglaries in the Main Street area.

After making a number of enquiries into the incidents, Police identified and located seven young people who are believed to be involved.

Some of the young people were located in the Dunedin area.

The seven youth have been spoken to by Police and have been referred to Youth Services.

We understand this activity is incredibly frustrating to members of the public, and we will continue to work to hold offenders to account.

However we cannot do this alone, if you witness any suspicious or unlawful activity, please contact Police with as much information you can safely gather.

You can contact us on 111, or for non-emergencies through 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Make a Report” or call 105.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source:

A man who was critically injured following a crash in Brockville last month has died in hospital this morning.

The crash occurred on Brockville Road at about 4:15pm on Saturday 29 March.

A 31-year-old man is due to reappear in the Dunedin District Court on 24 April, charged with reckless driving causing injury in relation to the incident.

Further charges are being considered.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre